Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: Third Reading

On Monday 5 July 2021, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill  recieved its Third Reading by Ayes: 365 – Noes: 265. This Bill would make significant changes across the criminal justice system. It includes provisions to amend police powers and how the police are supported to do their job preventing and detecting crime. The Bill would also make significant changes to how offenders are dealt with including major reforms to “out of court disposals”, changes to sentencing law and changes to how offenders are managed in the community. 

I voted against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill at Third Reading. The Bill fails to address the crisis in our police and justice system that has been created by a decade of cuts.  The Government has undermined the parts of this bill I support by including draconian measures that impose disproportionate controls on free expression and the right to protest; measures that will have an unfair impact on Black, Asian and ethnic minority people; lack of evidence of effectiveness at stopping reoffending; and send the wrong priorities about keeping people safe by giving people a 10 year sentences for crimes against statues more than various crimes that disproportionately impact on women.